The Truth about Dentists and Opioids

Austin, TX – All career paths and services have their key controversial issues. Some of them are a side effect of old practices, and others are a byproduct of other outside factors such as resources or policies yet to be put in place. We hold dentists to a similar standard as most medical professionals, and on some level, they still hold themselves to it. So, it would make sense that dentists would have the same conflict as other medical professionals. And a big one is the use of opioids.

Opioids

Opioids are not a newly controversial topic. This is something that has been the driving force behind 300 years of conflict. Its ancestor, opium literally caused a war in China, has been a subject behind the Temperance movement, and was the reason cough syrup killed a lot of infants in the 1920s. However, just like alcohol, opioids are still a very common sight. They are available, but they come in a different form than it did 100 years ago. The only difference between the heroin today and the painkillers doctors give us is the presentation and time period. But how do we define opioids, and what makes them such a controversial issue to begin with?

Opioids work as both a pain reliever and an anesthetic that binds to certain receptors in your brain. According to the American Association of Anesthesiologists “Opioids attach to proteins called opioid receptors on nerve cells in the brain, spinal cord, gut and other parts of the body. When this happens, the opioids block pain messages sent from the body through the spinal cord to the brain”. When used too often, it can decrease its effect over time, creating a need for increased dosage and a dependancy. This dependancy can become severe when there is enough of an euphoria to encourage a recreational use of the drug. This addiction can create a fatal overdose when not properly treated.

What Opioids are there?

While opioids get associated with the public perception of opium, as a byproduct of the poppy flower, there are plenty of opioids out on the market. Some are more severe than others, and mostly, everyone has used them at least once. You might be familiar with one or more of the opiates on the list:

Codeine

Fentanyl

Hydrocodone

Oxycodone

Oxymorphone

Morphine

Codeine, for instance, is something in Tylenol. All it takes is too much tylenol and you could get an addiction. If that doesn’t illustrate the scope of the problem, there are more statistics that point to it. The CDC states, that as of 2017 more than 399,000 people died from overdoses having to do with any opioid. While part of those numbers include heroin and commonly prescribed opioids, the highest death count belongs to synthetic opioids. And, on top of it 40% of those overdose deaths are a result of prescription opioid.

How Can Dentists Help with the Problem

So, what are dentists doing to help on their end curtailing the problem? While there are certainly a lot of nuanced factors, most of which is far outside their scope of expertise. However, that doesn’t mean that dentists are unable to do anything. A few of them are highlighted by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

Perscription limitations: While it is impossible to avoid barring every addict access from the drugs they are looking for, you can at least make it harder.

Prescribe the lowest effective dose of immediate-release opioids.

Prescribe no greater quantity than needed for the expected duration of pain severe enough to require opioids.

Note that three days or less will often be sufficient, and more than seven days will rarely be needed.

Use alternatives: It turns out there are anti-inflammatory analgesics and other forms of anesthesia that are less addicting. The CDC provides guidelines for those.

Counsel your Patient and Communicate :

Ask about any other medications they’re currently taking, and whether they or any family members have had problems with substance abuse, such as with alcohol, prescription medications, or illicit drugs.

Explain the risks of taking the medication.

Describe how to take the medicine and how long to take it.

Explain that alcohol should never be used when taking an opioid medication.

Provide guidance on storing medication in a safe place out of sight and out of reach of children, preferably in a locked cabinet.

Know your state’s regulation. They usually have guidelines and laws that set time or dosage limits.

While it may take a while, these regulations for dentists are headed in the right direction.

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Beth

Beth S. has been in the dental field for over 15 years. She helps in the front office (insurance claims, answering calls), as well as assists clinically with Drs. Fossum and Tucker. Beth helps make your your appointment is smooth and efficient as possible. Beth enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with her family.

John

John has been a Registered Dental Assistant since 2004 and has been with Austin Family Dentist since late 2016. He enjoys his role in the office helping provide caring and quality dentistry to our patient community. John is here to help w/ any and all questions and to help your dental appointment run smoothly. John enjoys spending time with his wife and 2 children. During some of his free time, he provides meals and dental essentials to the homeless. John is a big Dallas Cowboys fan.

Jill

Jill has been a Registered Dental Assistant since 2006. She worked with Dr. Tucker for 2 years, at another office, before following him to Austin Family Dentist in the fall of 2009. Jill loves to interact with patients and getting to know them on a more personal level. She does her best to make the overall dental experience a positive one. In her free time she loves spending time w/ her family and enjoying all of Austin’s beautiful sights.

Jennifer

Jennifer works the front office at Austin Family Dentist. She has been in the dental field for over 15 years, so ask any questions and she will probably have the answer, or know where to get it. Jennifer has been with Austin Family Dentist since 2008. She enjoys spending her free time her daughter, Amaris. They love to travel together, take lots of pictures, and make memories together.

Ying

Ying is one of our two full time Dental Hygienists. She has been with Austin Family Dentist since November 2015. She is fluent in two languages (Chinese and English) and still knows some Japanese. Ying has a degree in international business, and earned her Registered Dental Hygiene degree from Austin Community College. Ying enjoys traveling, photography, sports, gardening, sewing, and making new friends in Austin. Ying has a gentle touch and is very detail oriented. She strives to make each and every patient have a welcoming, educating, and pleasant experience at Austin Family Dentist.

Shireen

Shireen is one of our two full time hygienists. She grew up on San Antonio where she received her bachelor’s degree in Biology and attended the Health Science Center for Dental Hygiene. In her spare time Shireen enjoys attending concerts (she is a huge music lover). She always enjoys outdoor activities and being with friends.

Melissa

Melissa has been a registered dental assistant since 2010. She is one of the ladies who will be greeting you when you walk in the door. She enjoys working at Austin Family Dentist because she loves working in a fun, friendly, family-oriented atmosphere. Although she is an RDA, she mainly specializes in handling the insurance, scheduling, and treatment coordinating. Melissa enjoys helping patients change their perception of dentistry and restoring smiles inspires her everyday. If you ever have any questions Melissa is here to help answer any and all of your questions.

In her free time, Melissa enjoys being outdoors, trying new foods, cooking, crafting, listening to live music, and most importantly, spending time with her family.

Brent E Fossum

DDS

Dr. Brent Fossum was born and raised in Rapid City, South Dakota, and has lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and several cities in Texas. His extended family includes seven dentists including three brothers in his immediate family, all of whom graduated from the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston, and three great uncles, also brothers, who graduated from the Chicago College of Dental Surgery, the first being Dr. Albert Fossum, who received his DDS Degree in 1898…

Brian D Tucker
(Owner)

DMD, FAGD (Owner)

Dr. Tucker was born and raised in New Jersey. He received his Baccalaureate of Science in Biology at The College of New Jersey. Dr. Tucker went on to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey where he received his Dental degree as a Doctor of Medical Dentistry. During his senior year…